There's often heated debate about wild versus farmed salmon, with arguments centered on what's healthier, more natural, and best for the environment. But now a third factor is likely to spark even larger controversy and conversation: genetically engineered salmon.

Recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), salmon is the first genetically modified animal to be classified as safe for human consumption. Part of this approval means the engineered fish will not require labels marking it as such, which is consistent with the FDA's ruling on genetically modified crops. Though this does not prevent companies (like Whole Foods' recent initiative) from marking their products as genetically engineered or not.

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Some consumer and environmental groups are standing strongly against this decision, arguing that if the engineered fish ever escaped into oceans and rivers, they would harm wild salmon populations.

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The modified Atlantic salmon raised by AquAdvantage are genetically modified to reach market size nearly twice as fast as conventional farmed salmon. And even though it has been given the go-ahead, the fish will not hit supermarkets right away. It will likely take two years before they're readily available and even then it will be in small amounts.

Additionally, the New York Times reports that the FDA made its initial decision that the fish would be safe both for the environment and to eat more than five years ago. Director for the agency's Center of Veterinary Medicine Bernadette Dunham said the FDA has "thoroughly analyzed and evaluated the data and information submitted by AquaBounty regarding the AquAdvantage salmon and determined that they have met the regulatory requirements for approval, including that food from the fish is safe to eat."